- develop oral presentation skills
- develop student's research and professional development skills
- develop students communication skills
- enhance group work skills
- enhance students' learning skills in a continuous and automous manner
- equip students with the skills necessary to understand and critically assess issues in Middle East politics
Internships Available
Sustainable Development Goals
This course is available through the following application route(s)
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Visit Our Website for Further Information such as Entry Requirement and Application Documents.
Sign up for webinars for offer holders and prospective students on Mon 28 April at 2pm and on Tue 29 April at 11am.
World Top 100 in the QS Ranking 2024 in Politics | Oldest and Largest School of its Kind in Ireland.
UCD School of Politics & International Relations is the oldest and largest school of its kind in Ireland with over 150 years of experience in political studies and a world-renowned faculty drawn from many countries.
The MA Middle East Politics provides students with a rigorous understanding of one of the most important regions in global politics. The Middle East has long been the site of political upheaval with significant impacts within the region and beyond. The long-standing Arab-Israeli conflict, the rise of political Islam, the invasion of Iraq, and, more recently, the popular uprisings of 2011, which challenged autocratic regimes across the region, have transformed the Middle East.
The programme is designed to deepen knowledge and understanding of the domestic and regional politics of the Middle East. It is structured around a set of thematic modules that encourage students to explore political dynamics in the region from a number of different perspectives
The key learning outcomes will be that students have demonstrated specialised, detailed or advanced theoretical and conceptual knowledge and understanding of Middle East Politics, which is based on current debate and controversy at the forefront of the field and that provides a basis or opportunity for originality in developing and/or applying ideas, often within a research contect.
About This Course
Graduates of the programme have found employment with the official Irish aid programme, in Irish and international non-governmental organisations such as Trocaire, Goal, Action Aid and Oxfam, and with agencies of the European Union and the United Nations as well as in journalism, education, local community development, and many other areas including:
- Public administration
- Journalism
- Media
- Civil society organisations
- Voluntary sector
- Academic institutions
The UCD School of Politics and International Relations (SPIRe) has established an internship programme for graduate students undertaking MA programmes in Politics, International Relations, International Political Economy, International Development, Peace and Conflict, MEconSc European Public Affairs and Law, MSc Human Rights and MSc Politics and Data Science. You can either opt for a Masters thesis, or an internship of at least 480 hours, typically undertaken from June to August.
See this page for more information
Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.
Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.
| Trimester | Credits | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Stage 1 Core Modules |
POL41510 | Politics and Change in the Middle East and North Africa | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Core Modules |
POL42330 | Research Design | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - 1)1 of: Students must pick either POL42300 SPIRe Internship or POL42310 Thesis as a core module. |
POL42300 | SPIRe Internship | Summer | 30 |
Stage 1 Options - 1)1 of: Students must pick either POL42300 SPIRe Internship or POL42310 Thesis as a core module. |
POL42310 | Thesis | Summer | 30 |
Stage 1 Options - A)40CR: Pick 40 credits. If choosing Arabic, both modules must be selected. |
POL40050 | Theories of International Relations | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)40CR: Pick 40 credits. If choosing Arabic, both modules must be selected. |
POL40950 | Introduction to Statistics | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)40CR: Pick 40 credits. If choosing Arabic, both modules must be selected. |
POL40970 | Politics of European Governance | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)40CR: Pick 40 credits. If choosing Arabic, both modules must be selected. |
POL41020 | Politics of Human Rights | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)40CR: Pick 40 credits. If choosing Arabic, both modules must be selected. |
POL41980 | Peace & Conflict Studies | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)40CR: Pick 40 credits. If choosing Arabic, both modules must be selected. |
POL42040 | Gender & the Political System | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)40CR: Pick 40 credits. If choosing Arabic, both modules must be selected. |
LANG10080 | Arabic General Purposes 1(CEFR A1.1) | Autumn and Spring (separate) | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A)40CR: Pick 40 credits. If choosing Arabic, both modules must be selected. |
LANG10710 | Arabic General Purposes 2 | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A)40CR: Pick 40 credits. If choosing Arabic, both modules must be selected. |
POL30730 | Political Activism in the Middle East | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)40CR: Pick 40 credits. If choosing Arabic, both modules must be selected. |
POL40100 | Politics of Development | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)40CR: Pick 40 credits. If choosing Arabic, both modules must be selected. |
POL40140 | Theories of Global Justice | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)40CR: Pick 40 credits. If choosing Arabic, both modules must be selected. |
POL40160 | Comparative Public Policy | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)40CR: Pick 40 credits. If choosing Arabic, both modules must be selected. |
POL40370 | International Political Economy | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)40CR: Pick 40 credits. If choosing Arabic, both modules must be selected. |
POL40540 | Comparative European Politics | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)40CR: Pick 40 credits. If choosing Arabic, both modules must be selected. |
POL40610 | EU Foreign, Security, and Defence Pol. | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)40CR: Pick 40 credits. If choosing Arabic, both modules must be selected. |
POL41030 | Theory of Human Rights | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)40CR: Pick 40 credits. If choosing Arabic, both modules must be selected. |
POL41640 | Qualitative Research Methods for Political Science | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)40CR: Pick 40 credits. If choosing Arabic, both modules must be selected. |
POL41720 | Gender, Peace, and Security | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)40CR: Pick 40 credits. If choosing Arabic, both modules must be selected. |
POL42050 | Quantitative Text Analysis | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)40CR: Pick 40 credits. If choosing Arabic, both modules must be selected. |
POL42060 | International Security | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)40CR: Pick 40 credits. If choosing Arabic, both modules must be selected. |
POL42340 | Programming for Soc Scientists | Spring | 10 |
UCD is strongly committed to advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), embedding sustainability in teaching, research, operations, and community engagement. Sustainability principles are integrated into this programme, ensuring students graduate equipped to address global challenges. UCD’s leadership in this area is internationally recognised, ranking 49th globally and 1st in Ireland in the QS World University Rankings for Sustainability 2024. UCD also leads impactful research in areas such as climate action, clean energy, and social equity, supported by a comprehensive Sustainability Strategy focused on reducing emissions, enhancing biodiversity, and fostering a sustainable campus culture.
Here are the SDGs which align more visibly with this programme:
Fahmi Shihabi
My experience in the Middle East Politics program has been truly enriching and enjoyable. The program's modules are shared with other social science courses and the professors teaching the modules are well immersed in their fields. Three core modules must be taken for this program; the other modules can be chosen depending on the interest and goals of the student. I chose to study Theories of Human Rights, Peace & Conflict Studies and International Security in the second semester. I have no regrets in choosing those modules and the knowledge I have gained is significant and I will put it to good use after graduation.
I stayed on campus for half of the course and I enjoyed my stay. The campus had all my needs from grocery shops, sport clubs, green spaces, etc. The James Joyce library is one of my favourite places to study at.
MA Middle East Politics (W393) Full Time
EU fee per year - € 10350
nonEU fee per year - € 22600
MA Middle East Politics (W394) Part Time
EU fee per year - € 6580
nonEU fee per year - € 11300
***Fees are subject to change
EU fee per year - € 10350
nonEU fee per year - € 22600
MA Middle East Politics (W394) Part Time
EU fee per year - € 6580
nonEU fee per year - € 11300
***Fees are subject to change
Tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website. Please note that UCD offers a number of graduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD graduate degree programme. For further information please see International Scholarships.
SPIRe operates a Graduate Scholarship programme, which normally opens in late Spring. To access details, see SPIRe Graduate Scholarship Scheme. Please note that not all programmes are eligible for this Scholarship.
A primary degree with at least Second Class Honours Grade 1 (2H1). 2H1 is equivalent to 60 percent, B minus or 3.08 GPA - in American system: B or 3.00 GPA.
Your application will be considered on its individual merits and relevant professional experience will also be taken into account.
English language requirements: applicants whose first language is not English should have met TOEFL, IELTs, or computer-based TOEFL requirements (600, 6.5, or 90 respectively), or the Cambridge English Test (Certificate in Advanced English at a minimum of Grade B, or Certificate of Proficiency in English at Grade C). Applicants who obtained a previous degree from an English-speaking university may be exempted from this requirement. Click here for further info.
Applicants whose first langauge is not English must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 6.5 (no band less than 6.0 in each element ) or equivalent. Students meeting the programme’s academic entry requirements but not the English language requirements, may enter the programme upon successful completion of UCD’s Pre-Sessional or International Pre-Master’s Pathway programmes. Please see the following link for further information http://www.ucd.ie/alc/programmes/pathways/
These are the minimum entry requirements – additional criteria may be requested for some programmes
You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme. Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page for further information. Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage.
Full Time option suitable for:
Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EU) applicants: Yes
Part Time option suitable for:
Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants: No
How to Apply
General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to MA Middle East Politics:
| ROWCLASS | Apply to |
|---|---|
| showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt | W393 MA Middle East Politics Master of Arts Full-Time Commencing September 2025 Graduate Taught |
| showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt | W394 MA Middle East Politics Master of Arts Part-Time Commencing September 2025 Graduate Taught Not available to International applicantsApply |
* you can change options at the top of the page